MLB Rumors

Rangers relief pitcher Joakim Soria, who is rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, will resume throwing off a mound at the start of June, according to ESPN.

Soria experienced tightness in his pectoral muscle late in April which has shut him down for three weeks. He is expected to be ready to activated from the disabled list in early July.

Rangers infield prospect Mike Olt , who is on the minor-league disabled list with an eye issue, began a hitting program with Triple-A hitting coach Scott Coolbaugh.

General manager Jon Daniels told ESPN Sunday that eye specialists have not been able to locate a problem with Olt's vision. Olt was hitting .139 with a home run and six RBI in 20 minor-league games.

"You always like to have answers," Daniels said. "You deal with what you have."

Rangers catcher A.J. Pierzynski (oblique) began his minor-league rehab assignment Sunday afternoon at Double-A Frisco.

Pierzynski went 0 for 3 with a strikeout. He is expected to be activated prior to Tuesday's game at home against the A's.

White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn endured a quiet afternoon at the plate Sunday against the Angels.

Dunn, who was forced to leave Saturday's game with back spasms, returned to the lineup as he struck out three times and drew a walk. He finished 0 for 3 in a 6-2 defeat.

Dunn is hitting .364 (8 for 22) with four homers and 10 RBI in his last six games.

Red Sox outfielder Shane Victorino reached base twice during Sunday's series finale against the Twins at Target Field.

Victorino singled in the first, stole a base and drew a walk. He finished 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored in a 5-1 win. He is hitting .282/.343/.363 with two homers and 10 RBI.

Orioles manager Buck Showalter told The Baltimore Sun that he hopes infielder Ryan Flaherty can "get his legs back under him" while at Triple-A Norfolk.

Flaherty was optioned to Norfolk Saturday after hitting just .133/.228/.233 in 30 games to start the season.

"Last year, he was a Rule 5 guy and the circumstances were different," Showalter said. "We got him through the year and he was contributor from last year, and I think [he] will be again. But he needs to go get his legs back under him, offensively, his confidence, everything."

Rockies outfielder Dexter Fowler enjoyed his third consecutive multi-hit performance Sunday afternoon against the Giants.

Fowler singled four times as he finished 4 for 5 with two runs scored in a 5-0 win.

Fowler is hitting .500 (10 for 20) with seven runs scored and two RBI in his last four games. He is hitting .286 with eight home runs and 18 RBI.

The Cubs are expected to designate reliever Michael Bowden for assignment Tuesday to clear a space for Matt Garza on the roster, according to The Chicago Tribune.

Bowden struck out seven, walked five and carried a 3.78 ERA through 16 2/3 innings of work in the majors.

Giants outfielder Angel Pagan exited Sunday's series finale against the Rockies due to flu-like symptoms.

Pagan was removed from the game in the fifth. He finished 0 for 2 with a strikeout in a 5-0 defeat. He is hitting 256 with two homers and 18 RBI. His status for Monday's series opener at home against the Nationals is still up in the air.

Twins pitcher Pedro Hernandez suffered his first loss of the season in Sunday's 5-1 defeat to the Red Sox.

Hernandez (2-1), who made his sixth start of the season, surrendered a solo home run to Will Middlebrooks in the second. He was charged with three runs and nine hits over 4 1/3 innings of work. He struck out two and walked one as he saw his ERA rise from 5.79 to 5.85.

Hernandez is scheduled to make his next start Friday at Detroit. He has a whopping 10.22 ERA in three starts away from Target Field.